When Noe Ortega joined Summer Search’s virtual Career Coaching Program, he was hoping to land a summer internship and explore career opportunities in engineering. He was matched with Donnie Brodd, a project manager at Shawmut Design and Construction in Boston, and the two quickly found common ground.
Noe Ortega, Career Coaching Mentee & Post-Secondary Participant
Noe is studying mechanical engineering at Saint Martin’s University, where he also competes in Division II cross country and track. Donnie, who was introduced to Summer Search through his company, recognized Noe’s drive from the start.
“I could tell right away that Noe was a bright kid with a lot of goals and a determination to get there. He asked good questions, was hungry to break into his career, and balanced his time well being a college athlete.”
Their early conversations focused on getting to know each other, setting goals, and exploring career paths. With Noe’s interest in construction, Donnie shared his own professional experiences as he helped him prepare for the internship search. They practiced mock interviews, talked through interview etiquette, and worked on ways Noe could highlight his strengths to potential employers. Those sessions helped Noe secure a summer internship with Whiting-Turner, a national general contractor, on a project in Seattle.
“One of my first goals was to secure an internship that summer, and I couldn’t have done it without Donnie. He provided valuable insight, helped me practice mock interviews, and gave me advice throughout the process. Donnie has been like an older brother I never had. He has helped me grow as a student, both in my career and in life.”
While career development brought them together, Donnie and Noe found plenty to talk about beyond work. Both are athletes, and their conversations often turned to running, workouts, and the discipline it takes to keep working toward a goal.
Those conversations became an important part of their relationship, particularly when it came to accountability. Noe shared:
“Listening to his experiences showed me the importance of staying consistent, setting goals, and holding yourself accountable even when it gets difficult.”
And the learning went both ways. Donnie remembers their first conversation after Noe accepted his internship offer. He expected they would spend the meeting celebrating. Instead, Noe was ready to set his next goals and encouraged Donnie to do the same. Months later, they revisited those goals and realized they had both accomplished what they set out to do.
“I learned to never get complacent and to always continue striving for something greater. As Noe would put it, we set out to ‘win the day’ each time we met and I brought that into every day life.”
Donnie Brodd, Career Coaching Mentor & Project Manager at Shawmut
Donnie also earned a promotion to project manager during their coaching partnership. He credits the experience with helping him build confidence as a leader and think more intentionally about his own professional development.
For Noe, having someone outside his family, friends, and athletic coaches to turn to has made a meaningful difference.
“It’s been life changing. We all need mentors in different areas of our lives, and having a professional mentor has helped me become a better leader in my academics, professional development, athletics, and life overall.”
Their partnership is one example of what Summer Search’s Career Coaching Program makes possible. Along with practical career preparation, students gain access to professional networks, new perspectives, and relationships that can support them well beyond their first internship or job.
This year’s program has just begun, with 77 matches between students and career coaches representing healthcare, finance, engineering, technology, psychology, creative industries, and education. While we’re not recruiting coaches at this time, we’ll be open to new volunteers next summer. To explore other ways to get involved and stay in the loop about future career volunteer opportunities, email career@summersearch.org.